Verbena plant named `Sunvp-Pi`

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a verbena plant has spread growth habit having long stems and spreading area of plant of broad. The plant has abundant branching and a plentiful number of flowers in a spike, and a great profusion of blooms. The Blooming period is late April to November and flowering duration is long. The whole bush remains in bloom for a considerable period of time. The flower size is large and the petal color of the flower is a deep purplish pink color. The plant has high tolerances to cold and heat, high resistance to pests and diseases, particularly powdery mildew, and high resistance to rain.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of verbenaplant obtained from a crossing "Derby Rosa" (♀) and a wild type ofverbena plant Verbena peruviana f. rosea. (♂) native to Brazil.

The verbena is a very popular plant and is used for flower bedding andpotting in the summer season. There are only a few varieties of theverbena plant which have a spread growth habit, much branching, manynumber of flowers in a spike and which have a high resistance to rain,heat, cold, and diseases. Accordingly, this invention was aimed atobtaining a new variety having a spread growth habit, stronglybranching, many number of flowers in a spike, large diameter flower,high tolerance to heat and cold, and resistances to diseases and pests,and also having a is deep purplish pink color petal.

The new variety of verbena plant according to this invention originatedfrom crossing of "Derby Rosa" (♀) and a wild type of verbena plantVerbena peruviana f. rosea. (♀) native to Brazil. First of all, 15seedlings were obtained from crossing "Derby Rosa" as female parent anda wild type of verbena plant (Verbena peruviana f. rosea) as pollenparent in the spring of 1989. From this crossing 3 seedlings wereselected in view of spread growth habit and propagated by cutting, andthen grown as a trial by flower bedding and planter from in the springof 1990. And then 2 seedlings which were selected from these 3 seedlingswere carried out in a trial by flower potting and bedding from in thespring of 1991 and the botanical characteristics of 2 seedlings werethen examined, using similar variety "Derby salmon rose" for comparison.Finally only one plant was selected. As a result, it was concluded thatthis verbena is distinguishable from any other variety, whose existenceis known to us, sufficiently uniform and stable in its characteristics,then this new variety of verbena plant was named "Sunvp-Pi".

In the following description, the color-coding is in accordance with TheHorticultural Color Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England (R.H.S. Colour Chart), and the Inter- Society colorCouncil-Nation Bureau of Standard Color Name (I.S.C.C.-N.B.S. ColorName). A color chart based on The Japan Color Standard for HorticulturalPlant (J.H.S. Color Chart) is also added for reference.

The "Derby Rosa" used as female parent in the obtaining of this newvariety "Sunvp-Pi", is bred by the Bebary Corp., Germany and is on themarket. The "Derby Rosa" series includes "Derby salmon rose", "Derbyscarlet" and the like. The main botanical characteristics of "DerbyRosa" are as follows.

Plant:

Growth habit.--Semi-erect.

Plant height.--15-20 cm.

Plant extension.--30-50 cm.

Stem:

Diameter.--2.0-3.0 mm.

Anthocyanin pigmentation.--Absent.

Branching.--Medium.

Pubescence.--Medium.

Length of internode.--3.0-5.0 cm.

Leaf:

Phyllotaxis.--Opposite.

Shape of blade.--Oblong.

Length.--3.0-4.0 cm.

Width.--2.0-2.5 cm.

Depth of incison.--None, no incision.

Color.--Dark olive green (R.H.S. 137B, 147A, JHS 3707)

Pubescence.--Medium.

Flower:

Facing direction.--Upward.

Outward curvature of petal.--None.

Diameter.--1.5-2.0 cm.

Height.--15-20 mm.

Color.--Vivid red(R.H.S. 53D, JHS 0106).

Color intensity.--Absent.

Overlapping of petals.--Closed.

Spike.--30-40 mm in length; and 50-60 mm in diameter.

Calyx.--1.0-1.5 cm in length.

Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.--Present.

Peduncle.--2-3 mm in thickness; and 5.0-6.0 cm in length.

Number of flowers.--Medium (10-13).

Reproductive organs.--1 pistil and 5 stamens.

Flower fragrance.--Absent.

Flowering duration.--Medium.

Physiological and ecological characteristics: Low resistance to diseasesand pests, low tolerances to heat and cold.

The pollen parent used in the obtaining of this new variety "Sunvp-Pi"was a wild type of verbena native to South Brazil and Verbena peruvianaf. rosea. This wild type of verbena plant is presently maintained at thePlant Biotechnology Laboratory of Suntory Ltd., residing at 863-1,Aza-Iketani, Oomori-cho, Youkaiti-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan. The mainbotanical characteristics of this pollen parent are as follows.

Plant:

Growth habit.--Slightly erected spread.

Plant height.--5-8 cm.

Plant extension.--130-180 cm.

Stem:

Diameter.--2.0-3.0 mm.

Anthocyanin pigmentation.--Present.

Branching.--Medium.

Pubescence.--Medium.

Length of internode.--4.0-5.0 cm.

Leaf:

Phyllotaxis.--Opposite.

Shape of blade.--Narrow lanceolate.

Length.--3.0-4.0 cm.

Width.--2.0-2.5 cm.

Depth of incision.--Shallow.

Color.--Moderate olive green (R.H.S. 146A, JHS 3509)

Pubescence.--Few.

Flower:

Facing direction.--Upward.

Outward curvature of petal.--Slightly curved.

Diameter.--1.7-2.0 cm.

Height.--15-20 mm.

Color.--Strong purplish pink (R.H.S. 76A, JHS 8904).

Color intensity.--Absent.

Overlapping of petals.--Separate.

Spike.--30-40 mm in length; and 40-50 mm in diameter.

Calyx.--1.0 cm in length.

Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.--Present.

Penducle.--1-2 mm in thickness; and 5.0 cm in length.

Number of flowers.--Plentiful (13-15).

Reproductive organs.--1 pistil and 5 stamens.

Flower fragrance.--Absent.

Flowering duration.--Short.

Physiological and ecological characteristics: High resistance todiseases and pests, high tolerances to heat and moderate tolerances tocold.

This new variety of verbena plant "Sunvp-Pi" was asexually reproduced bycutting at the aforementioned Plant Biotechnology Laboratory of SuntoryLtd., residing at 863-1 Aza-Iketani, Oomori-cho, Youkaiti-shi,Shiga-ken, Japan, and the homogeneity and stability thereof wereconfirmed.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

This new variety of verbena plant has spread growth habit having longstems and spreading area of plant of broad. The plant has abundantbranching and plentiful number of flower in a spike, and great profusionof blooms. The Blooming periods is late April to November and floweringduration is long. And whole bush remains in bloom for a considerableperiod of time. The flower size is large and the petal color of floweris deep purplish pink color. The plant is highly tolerant to cold andheat, and high in resistance to pests and diseases, particularly powderymildew.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph giving a partial view of the new variety ofverbena plant planted in a flower pot.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of flowers of the new variety of verbena plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of verbenaplant, "Sunvp-Pi" are as follows.

Plant:

Growth habit.--Spread.

Plant height.--15-25 cm.

Plant extension.--50-70 cm.

Plant extension.--50-70 cm.

Growth.--Very vigorous with abundant branching and great profusion ofblooms; the whole bush remaining in bloom for a considerable period oftime.

Stem:

Diameter.--2.0-3.0 mm.

Anthocyanin pigmentation.--Present.

Branching.--Abundant.

Pubescence.--Medium.

Length of internode.--4.0-5.0 cm.

Leaf:

Phyllotaxis.--Opposite.

Shape of blade.--Hastate.

Length.--4.0-5.0 cm.

Width.--2.0-2.5 cm.

Depth of incision.--Shallow.

Color.--Grayish olive green (R.H.S. 137A-137B, JHS 3716)

Pubescence.--Few.

Flower:

Facing direction.--Upward.

Outward curvature of petal.--Curved.

Diameter.--1.5-2.0 cm.

Height.--20 mm.

Color.--Deep purplish pink (R.H.S. 70C, JHS 9213).

Color intensity.--Present.

Overlapping of petals.--Separate.

Spike.--30-35 mm in length; and 50-55 mm in diameter.

Calyx.--1.0 cm in length.

Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.--Present.

Peduncle--2-3 mm in thickness; and 5.0-6.0 cm in length.

Number of flowers.--Plentiful (13-15).

Reproductive organs.--1 pistil and 5 stamens.

Flower fragrance.--Absent.

Flowering duration.--Long.

Physiological and ecological characteristics: High resistance todiseases and pests, particularly powdery mildew. High tolerance to heatand moderate tolerances to cold.

This new variety of verbena plant is most suitable for flower beddingand potting, particularly in planters, and is further excellent forground cover.

The plant of this new variety, "Sunvp-Pi" is presently planted andmaintained at the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory of Suntory Ltd.,residing at 863-1 Aza-Iketani, Oomori-cho, Youkaiti-shi, Shiga-gun,Japan.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of verbena plant, substantiallyas herein illustrated and described, characterized particularly as tonovelty by (A) being a spread growth habit having long stems, (B) anabundant branching and plentiful number of flowers in a spike and greatprofusion blooms, the whole bush remaining in bloom for a considerableperiod of time, (C) flower size is large and the petal color of floweris deep purplish pink color, (D) a high resistance to rain, heat,drought, cold and pests.